ONEONTA, N.Y. – After back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the Houghton women's basketball team came out looking for vengeance on Saturday, and that's exactly what they found.
 
Four Highlanders scored in double-digits, and the defense locked down all-day, as Houghton soundly defeated the Hartwick Hawks, 85-41.
 
The Highlanders came out of the gates like a bullet, knocking down 11-of-22 shots, including 4-of-6 from three-point range.  Meanwhile, the defense allowed only one Hawks field goal (1-for-11). 
 
At the end of one, Houghton held a commanding, 26-4, lead.
 
Hartwick regained some offensive composure in the second, but the Houghton offensive barrage continued as the Highlanders again hit more than 50 percent of their shots overall and from long distance.
 
At the half, Houghton led, 50-20.
 
The second half brought more of the same, and the Highlanders continued to push through the end of the third quarter, then cruised to victory in the fourth.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 85 | Hartwick – 41
Records: Houghton: 11-3 (3-3 Empire 8) | Hartwick: 4-11 (1-5 Empire 8)
Venue: Lambros Arena, Hartwick College | Attendance: 94

NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton shot over 50 percent from the field, and from three-point range, in each of the first three quarters, sinking four threes in each quarter.  Overall, they shot 47 percent from the field and 48 percent from long distance.
 
>> The Highlanders limited the Hawks to only 13-for-58 (22.4%) from the field, with the second quarter their lone period above 20% shooting.
 
>> Tabitha DeVries registered her second double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and pulling down 11 boards.  She has scored in double-digits in 10 of the Highlanders 14 games this season.
 
>> Hannah Farley scored 10 points, her third consecutive game in double-digits, while Tricia Carmer added 14 points, five rebounds and three steals, and Teghan Trocki posted a new career-best 15 points, knocking down 5-of-6 shots from beyond the arc.
 
>> Emma Huedepohl chipped in nine points and six assists.
 
>> Crysta LaCrosse moved into sole possession of second place on the all-time Houghton women's assist leader board, passing Cori Beck (2016-20) with four dimes and seven points.  Wendy Ivey (1997-01) is the only Houghton player to have dished out more assists (407).
 
LaCrosse now has 1,042 career points and ranks 13^th on the all-time Houghton scoring list.  She trails 12^th-place-holder, Maisie Pipher by 26 points.  She also has 518 career rebounds, only 62 outside of the top-10.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center this upcoming Friday, January 23, when they will take on the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles at 5:30 p.m.